APRIL 18.
EVENING.-"Of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive."-Acts xxv. 19
And well might Paul affirm it; for Jesus, after his resurrection, had spoken to Paul from heaven! Well might John, the beloved apostle, give the church his repeated evidence to it; for Jesus not only made his appearance to John, in common with the other apostles, but in the island of Patmos appeared to him alone, and proclaimed himself under those glorious distinctions of character: "Fear not; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore!" Rev. i. 17,18. And well might Peter testify to the same, as he did in the family of Cornelius, when he had such indisputable proofs for himself and the rest of his brethren, the apostles, who were "the chosen witnesses of his resurrection: we did eat and drink with him (saith Peter) after he arose from the dead;" Acts x. 41.
But, my soul! Mark, in the contempt with which this blessed truth is spoken of, by the Roman governor, how little esteemed, and less regarded by the world, is that doctrine, which is thy life. And are there not thousands in the present hour, like Festus, who, even if they do profess a belief of Jesus's resurrection, are like him, unconscious of its vital effects on their hearts; and as to any of the saving influences resulting from it in the descent of the Spirit upon them, have "never so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost!"
My soul! how wilt thou prove the resurrection of Jesus in thine own experience, that, like Paul, thou mayest with equal confidence speak of this One Jesus, this only One, this blessed One, who was truly and indeed dead, but whom thou affirmest to be alive? Pause over the question, and then look into the real testimonies of it in thine heart. Remember what thy Jesus said as a promise which should take place soon after his resurrection and return to his Father, when redemption-work was finished: "I will send the Holy Ghost the Comforter. He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you;" John xiv. 26. Hence therefore, if the Holy Ghost is come, then is Jesus risen and ascended; and then hath the Father also most fully confirmed his perfect approbation of the righteousness and death of Jesus, as the Surety of his people, in raising him from the dead, setting him on his own right hand, and sending, down the Holy Ghost, agreeably to Christ's promise.
And dost thou know all these things, in thine own experience? Is Jesus thy resurrection and life? Hath he recovered thee by the quickening influences of his Holy Spirit, from death to life, and from the power of sin and Satan to the living God? Is he now the daily life giving, life-imparting, life-strengthening source of all thy faith, and life, and hope, and joy? Is it Jesus that becomes to thee as the dew unto Israel, reviving, like the dew of herbs, thy dry and unpromising wintry state, where there is no vegetation, and causing thee to put forth the tender bud afresh, when, without his influence, every thing in thee was parched and withered? Oh! then do thou proclaim it far and near, and let every one witness for thee, in every circle in which thou art called to move, that that one glorious Jesus, which was once dead, thou affirmest to be alive, and liveth for evermore. Precious Lord Jesus! how blessed are those sweet words of thine to my soul: "And because I live, ye shall live also!"
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